Window construction



June 4, 1946, Y s COX 2,401,552

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 2, 1943 I ..-I .......J

V l Y 4 5374 4WAPIIIIIIHIIIAM any f 1 l f 4 l 'nl l .I l r r PI Y I l l I f 69 l n SAMUEL F. COX 52 56 57 63 Z l ,Tg4 f @gw 'gj f3 l @www Patented June 4, 1946 UNITED STATE s PATENT Noi-'rlclaz WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Samuel F. Cox, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pitts-v burgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application'J une 2, 1943, Serial No. 489,364

One object of the invention isV to provide an improved combination of laminated interlayer structure, together with glass plates in which the interlayer is particularly designed to be extended beyond the `glass edges to serve as aj flexible mounting element.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flexible and tough interlayer of laminated plastic that is adapted to extend as a mounting flange beyond the edges of the glass plates laminated on opposite sides thereof. 1

Another objectof the invention is to provide an improved multiple k'glazed unit in which laminated plastic interlayers are joined to provide deformable connection between panels of theunit.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation'of a wall section including a laminated `closure structure; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section. on a larger scale, taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross section similar-to Fig'. 2 of 'a double glazed uniti mounted'in a supporting frame; and Fig. 4 is a cross section similar to Fig.

i 3 of another form of double glazed unit.

Inv practicing the invention a wall section I which can bea part of an airplane compartment.

vehicle, or other structure is provided with an opening I I in which a closure unit I5 of trans- 1 parent laminated form is disposed. y In one form of laminated unit, a sheet of thermo-plastic material I6 harder than the substance ordinarily employed as interlayer material in laminated units is provided with softer plastic layers Il bonded on opposite sides thereof. The central sheet I6 can be in the form of methyl methacryl- 'ate resin, anexample of which is known under the trade name of Lucite." The softer plastic layers I1 can be in the form of organic resin compound, such as plasticized vinyl acetal resin or other resin adapted to be employed in laminating The laminated plastic interlayer thusl (Cl. 2li-56.5)

i l 2 wall section III and clamping members 2| which are drawn tightly toward each other by means of suitable fastening elements 2l, such as bolts.

` The portion of the laminated interlayer extending beyond the glass edges is thicker, as indicated at 2l, than that which lies between the glass plates. This increased overall thickness is achieved by thickeningthe softer resin layers II.

The harder central sheet of plastic I6 thus serves,`

to impart sufficient strength and toughness to the mounting flange to withstand strains to which the laminated unit may be subjected while at the same time permitting such flexibility and resiliency as to compensate for distortion of supporting frame and clamping members as well as to relieve glass of any direct clamping forcesthat `would otherwise seriously affect the glass portion of the unit. The outer layers ofsofter resin providefor efficient fluid-tightjoints` because of its relatively soft and deformable character. The combined resin layers I i and I1 are thus well adapted to support the unit flexibly in fluid-tight relation when clamped as described.

Another form of structure shown in Fig. 3 I

comprises a double glazed unit 30 in which two laminated spaced panels ll and l2 are included. Each panel comprises glass plates 3| bonded upon opposite sides of a laminated plastic interlayer 3l in-the form of a central harder plastic sheet- 31 having softer organic plastic layers 39 Vbonded `upon opposite sides thereof. The glass plates in than plastic ordinarily used in laminating glass,j

they have considerable resiliency.

The vinyl acetal resin is extended `to form a bridge 4l between the spaced marginal portions ofthe adjacent laminated panels II and I2 and is continuous from one panel to the other. In the outer panel 3|, the laminated interlayer 36 extends beyond the edges of the glass plates to -form a flexible resilient mounting flange II.

Along at least one side of the flange the softer plastic is thicker than that lying between the glass plates. The softer resin extending beyond the edges of the plates and `bridging the space between the panels envelopes the edges of the glass and interlayer element 31 of the inner panel 32. A portion of this plastic overlaps the opposed marginal edges of the panels, as indicated at Il, to serve as a spacer and facilitate the preliminary assembly of the glass and plastic. The walled section I8 and clamping elements 49 with the aidof the bolts '5U engage the flange 4I and clamp it in fluid-tight relation in the same manner as that described with reference' to Eig. 2. It will be notedthat the single flanged-lcon,- stitutes the sole `connection between the double glazed unit and the surrounding supporting frame. Y

Fig. 4,illustrates a structure which comprises a double glazed unit 50 and in which two laminated spaced panels 5| and 52 are included. Each panel comprises glass plates Il bonded upon opposite sides of'a laminated plastic interlayer Si in the form of a central harder and resilient plastic sheet 51 having softer plastic layers of organic plastic 59 bonded upon opposite sides thereof. The.g1ass plates in turn are bonded upon the outer sides of the layers 59. The tougher and stiffer sheets 51 are composed of methyl methacrylate resin,l such asthe resin i6 shown in Fig. 2, and the'softer organic plastic layers 59 canbe in the form of vinyl acetal resin,

, or the like, corresponding to that described with reference to the layers IJ in Fig. 2.

, Both the softer and stiffer resins are extended toform a bridge 60 between the spaced marginal portions of the adjacent laminated panels 5| and 52 and is continuous from one panel to the other. In the outer panel 5| of the laminated unit 50 the plasticl interlayer 58 extends beyond the edges of the glass plates to form a flexible, .resilient mounting flange 6I. Along at least one side of the flange, the softer plastic is thicker than that lying between the glass plates. The softer resin that extends beyond the edges of `the glass plates to bridge the space between the panels envelopes the edges of the glass and interlayer element 51 of the inner panel 32. The stiffer elements 51 are joined by a transverse bridging section $2 ofthe same material which has its opposite edges fused; as indicated at 63, to these sheets to form an integral structure. A portion of this plastic overlaps the opposedmarginal portions of the panels, as indicated at 61, to serve as a spacer and to facilitate the mounting of the plastic and glass in the preliminary stages of assembly. The wall section 68 and clamping elements 69 with the Although illustrative forms of the invention `havebeen shownfand described indetail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a closure structure, a double glazed unit comprising two laminated panelsdisposed in parallel, spaced` relation one overlying the other, each panel including outer plates of glass and a central sheet of tough, resilient plastic; layers of softer deformable organic plastic bonded upon opposite sides of each central sheet to form therewith a laminated interlayer, the combined sheet and layers of plastic extending from one vpanel as a laminated mounting flange beyond the edges of the glass entirely around the perimeter thereof, and a plastic bridge integrally connecting the` interlayers of the two panels to close the space between the marginal portions of said` panels,

said bridge including a section of tough, resilient plastic sheet integrally connected to the `tough resilient sheet of each panel land Icovered,

throughout itsextent with the softer, deformable plastic. l

2. In a closure structure, a double glazed unit comprising two .laminated panels disposed in parallel spacedy relation one overlying the other, each panel `including outer plates of glass and a central sheet of tough, resilient plastic; layers of softer, deformable organic plastic bonded substantially coextensively upon opposite sides of each central sheet to` form therewith a laminated interlayer, the combined sheet and layers of plastic of one panel extending from the latter as a laminated mounting flangev beyond the edges of the glass entirely around the perimeter thereof, and a plastlcbridge integrally connecting the composite interlayers of the two panels entirely around the perimeters thereof to form a closed chamber between said panels.

, SAMUEL F. COX. 

